Healthy Girl Scout Cookies – Best and Worst Picks

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It’s that time of year when Girls Scout cookies are for sale, and as much as we like to support our local Girl Scout troops, there are not many cookie options that are considered “healthy".

It’s important to remember these are cookies we’re talking about, so it’s always a good idea to read the nutritional content before enjoying a few. Here are some good and not so great options from my “Love it, Like it, Hate it” segment on WGNO.

Love It!

There is only one cookie that makes our “Love It” list.Trios Cookies are gluten free and a great option for that sugar fix.

There are no white carbs and no white processed flour and all ingredients can actually be found in your kitchen. Unfortunately, these are not sold by every troop but definitely worth grabbing if you do see them.

Like It!

A few cookies make our “Like It” list. Cranberry Citrus Crispsare good because the first ingredient is whole grain. They contain no high-fructose corn syrup and no artificial colors, ﬂavors or sweeteners. The one downside is while they say they have “real fruit,” that actually means they contain dried cranberries with sugar on them.

Shortbread Cookies have also made the list but only because they have about half the amount of sugar than the other cookies have. The first ingredient is white flour, but they’re the lowest in sugar, with just one teaspoon sugar per 4-cookie serving.

Hate It!

Although all of these are considered vegan, Peanut Butter Patties (Tagalongs), Lemonades Cookies, Thanks-A-Lot Cookies, Peanut Butter Sandwiches (Do-Si-Dos), Caramel Delites and Thin Mints all contain nearly half a day’s worth of added sugar per serving. Each one also has a main ingredient of white flour or sugar.

Today there are much healthier options for Girl Scout cookies but you should always pay attention to sugar content (which could be as much as ½ a day worth in one serving). If you decide to purchase cookies from one of your local Girl Scout troop, one tip is to freeze them so you can enjoy a few at a time and they will last longer!

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